Hi all,

A bit of advice needed please!!

Am planning to move out to Sydney next March with my wife and 4 young kids.

We've been focussing our housing search on Sutherland shire, as this was recommend by a few people, but now want to check out a few alternatives.

We're looking for an area where we can get a 3 or 4 bed rental for up to $800 per week, and max 1 hour commute to CBD. As I said, got young kids, so looking for family friendly area, good schools etc.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Many thanks,
John

Try the Hills District - good family area.

Yes, I'd agree with that (I live there) but look carefully at transport options. We rent a big place with a pool for the budget you mention.

The Shire is God's Country...why look anywhere else?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2210792697

Indeed................

Probably be shot down in flames for suggesting this, but you could try the South West near Liverpool. There are some dodgy suburbs out that way, but if you are careful you can get a lot for your money. I lived in Prestons for a while & really liked it.

bang bang bang....!!!

Ok maybe not an awful lot for 800 per week but depends on your needs

North Shore - All of it

Look at Frenchs Forest and around that way. St Ives/Turramurra/Wahroonga and on out to Northern Beaches if your job is in the city there are bus options if not chosing a burb on the North Shore train line.

If nothing esle this will be worth a look to give you a comparison. There are also a few threads around if want to take a look at other peoples opinions on these areas. What you may need to consider carefully is the amount of money you have to buy in an area. It can be hard renting and then deciding you want to stay in the area only to find it is over your reasonable limits.

Have fun

I realised a long time ago that I can afford to rent on the northern beaches but not buy a decent place for much less than 700k. Doesn't bother me, I know my means and as much as I like it here I would happily move to another place to get value for money, a concept which seems rather alien to Australians!

I think moving area becomes more difficult when you have school age children Paddyo - if I remember correctly you have one starting/just started school so not the end of the world if you have to uproot. If you have a few school age kids and find a school/schools they are happy in, work for them on an educational level, and they make friends not to mention finding sports clubs and after school activities it becomes a bit of a nightmare. In THEORY of course you can do it all over again but if you have any aspirations to eventually buy it's miles better to do your research and try and get it right first time!

Yep, all perfectly right of course. We are making our 'where to buy' decision in 2012. We will then be PR and will have sold our UK home and the little fella will be 7. I moved around as a kid so know the effects it has and we have always said that whatever happens, we will have a permanent home sorted by the time our son is 9.